The Ritual

It’s 9:00 on a Saturday night, and there’s a hint of horror in the air as I share a favorite pastime of mine with my son. It’s something I used to do with my own mother nearly every night. My fingers would often be stained with the evidence. Bits of colorful carnage littered the table where we had performed our nightly ritual.

Tonight as Nick and I prepared our own table for the ritual I took a moment to appreciate the fact that this would be his first time – his first descent into an act that can only be described as a therapeutic, bloodletting of the mind.

Together, we gathered our instruments inspecting each one to ensure that it was sharp enough to get the job done.

We made eye contact, and I could sense his fear. I knew it all too well. I could almost hear the nervous banter of his mind. What if I mess up? What if I do it wrong?

I offered a reassuring smile, and nodded my head. It was time to begin.

Grabbing the sharpest instrument, he took a deep breath and said, “I’m going to start with the head.”

And that’s when I knew he was a natural – this was his first coloring book, but it definitely wouldn’t be his last.

The coloring book is The Beauty of Horror by Alan Robert, and it is one of the coolest ones I have ever seen. Get it here.